Ignition system



Jan. 14, 1936. H, L, HRTZELL IGNITION SYSTEM Filed June 16, 1954 NSULA 7 /NsuL/a TOR sa 32a.

Patented Jan. 14, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE IGNITION SYSTEM Application June 16, 1934, Serial N0. 730,946

10 Claims. (C1. 123-148) Thisr invention relates to ignition apparatus and systems for explosion engines, where a charge of fuel is ignited by interrupting an electric circuit.

In ignition circuits where the higher voltages are used in the primary circuit, and in ignition circuits for the higher speed type of explosion engine, a predominant fault or objection manifests in the burning or pitting of the contacts of the circuit interrupter that institutes the firing of the fuel charge.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide an ignition system and apparatus for explosion engines, that Willreduce the tendency of contact burning or pitting due to engine operation particularly at high speeds.

A `further object is to provide an ignition system that will effectively carry a higher voltage of primary current withoutserious arcing at the interrupter contacts.

A still further object is to provide an ignition system that will be effective to carry sufficient primary current during high speed engine operation to cause proper combustion of the fuel charge, without the usual attendant phenomenon of serious contact burning and/or pitting.

These and other objects have been accomplished by providing a pair of circuit breakers for substantially simultaneous operation by a common cam, and thence connecting the circuit breakers in series, and in series with the primary or primaries of the current transforming means. In an arrangement as that just described, when the interrupters are actuated, the primary current will be simultaneously interrupted in as many places as there are circuit breakers, which results in a greatly increased rate of contact opening.

It has been found that two or more pairs of contacts, operating in series and opening approximately simultaneously, will carry more current load, than a single pair of contacts, without serious arcing. This arrangement has merit for use with higher voltage ignition circuits where it is desirable to operate coils in series in order to decrease the watts needed for ignition.

It is therefore aA further object of this invention to provide an ignition system for explosion engines of the high speed type, the fuel charge of which is ignited by voltages of higher magnitude. This has been accomplished by providing a pair of current transforming units having primaries connected in series and joined to an interrupter mechanism characterized by a plurality of circuit breakers connected in series and in series Fig. 2 is a circuit diagram illustrating a modiiication of the herein disclosed ignition system.

Ignition systems of this general character include a source of current, such as a battery I6, having a ground connection at I2, and feeding a primary ignition circuit I4 within which is inserted an ignition switch I6, and a primary winding I8 of an ignition coil 2l! all in series with an interrupter 22. A connecting lead 24 joins the primary with the interrupter, and a final ground connection is made at 26. A secondary winding 28 of the ignition coil, has a high tension lead 3B `communicating with a central terminal 32 of a distributing element 34. An engine driven shaft 36 is adapted to actuate the interrupter mechanism 22, and the distributing element 34.

The particular type of interrupter mechanism 22 is conveniently illustrated in diagrammatic form, in both Views of the drawing, and includes a foundation plate 40 providing a pair of pivot posts` 42 forming a support each for a circuit breaker lever 44, 45 that are insulated from the pivot post 42 by appropriate bushings 48. Both of the circuit breaker levers provide rubbing blocks 5i) adapted for simultaneous engagement by the crests o-f an engine driven cam 52. The levers 44 and 46 are each provided with movable contacts 53, and 54, respectively, that cooperate with xed contacts 56 and 58 carried by a bracket 66 supported from the foundation plate 40. An appropriate rivet or screw 62 holds the bracket 6B in place and insulation thereof is perfected by a satisfactory dielectric member 64. Each of the levers 44 and 46 are urged against the cam 52 so as to engage the fixed contacts, by reason of leaf spring conductors {i6-and 68, respectively, each of which has an insulated attachment IIJ to some part of the foundation plate or surrounding structure, from which connection is made into the hereinbefore described circuit. I

In the instance of the circuit breaker lever 44, its leaf spring conductor 66 joins a lead 'I2 that 2. In an ignition system for explosion engines, having primary and secondary circuits; the combination comprising, a source of current for said primary circuit; a plurality of sets of contacts; said primary circuit being completed when both sets ci said contacts are closed, and the contacts being connected in series in the primary circuit; and means for opening both sets of contacts simultaneously to increase the rate of contact separation'.

3. In an ignition system for explosion engines, the combination comprising; an induction coil or coils having windings in a primary circuit, a pair of circuit closers connected each in series and in series with the coil or coils; the primary circuit oi said system being completed through said circuit closers only when both are closed, and means opening the circuit closers simultaneously to double the rate of contact separation.

4. In an ignition system; means for making and breaking a circuit, said means comprising, a plurality of circuit breakers arranged in series in a circuit for making and breaking a circuit at .a plurality of points; and means for operating said circuit breakers simultaneously so as to open and close the circuit at as many points in the circuit as there are circuit breakers.

5. In an ignition system for explosion engines,

the combination comprising; a current source; a timer having a plurality of circuit breakers connected in series; a plurality of ignition coils each having a primary winding and a secondary winding; the primary winding being connected in series with the circuit breakers and current source, and the secondary windings being arranged in parallel relation; and means for simultaneously operating said circuit breakers to open the primary circuit at points equal in number to the number of circuit breakers.

6. In an ignition system for explosion engines the combination with a current source, and current transforming means, oi a plurality of circuit breakers each having a fixed contact and a movable contact cooperating therewith, the circuit breakers being connected in series with the transforming means and current source, and means actuating the circuit breakers for simultaneously separating the contacts of each circuit breaker.

7. In an ignition system for explosion engines the combination with a current source, and current transforming means, of 4a plurality of circuit breakers connected in series with the current source, and each being capable of opening the primary circuit, and means for actuating the circuit breakers ior coincident opening of the primary circuit at as many points in series as there are circuit breakers in the circuit.

8. An ignition system for explosion engines, comprising in combination, a current source of relatively high voltage, a plurality of ignition coils with primary windings connected in series, and an interrupter in series with the primaries and source, said interrupter including a pair of circuit breaker mechanisms each provided with separable contacts, means connecting the contacts in series, and means actuating the circuit breakers to effect simultaneous separation of the respective contacts, whereby the relatively high voltage primary circuit may be effectively interrupted during high speed engine operation Without serious arcing at the contacts.

9. In an ignition system, the combination comprising; a source of current; current transforming means including an induction coil having a primary and a secondary circuit, and interrupter mechanism for making and breaking the primary circuit simultaneously at a plurality of points, said mechanism including a foundation plate, a pair of circuit breaker levers insulatingly pivoted on the plate and each provided with a contact, an engine driven cam for operating the levers, a bracket having an insulating support from the plate and provided with a pair of fixed contacts, said bracket being situated so that the contacts thereof are in cooperable relation with the contacts of the circuit breaker levers, and means connecting all of the contacts in series with the primary of the current transforming means, actuation of cam separating all of the contacts simultaneously so that a quick break of the primary circuit occurs without attendant arcing at the contacts.

l0. In an ignition system, the combination comprising; a source of current; current transforming means including an induction coil having a primary and a secondary circuit; and interrupter mechanism for making and breaking the primary circuit simultaneously at a plurality of points, said mechanism including a foundation plate, a pair of circuit breaker levers having independent pivotal supports and each provided with a movable contact, a contact bracket provided with a pair of electrically connected xed contacts, means for mounting and insulating the circuit breaker levers and the bracket from thefoundaticn plate, a rotating cam for actuating the levers in synchronism so that each pair o-f contacts will be opened simultaneously, and means connecting the contacts in series and the circuit breakers in series with the primary circuit, whereby interruption of the primary circuit will occur at a plurality of points and thus double the rate of contact separation.

HERMAN L. HARTZELL. 

